Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1887-10-07

Through Universlty.
Tothose who intend or desire to send
their sons 10 college some Of the most
important questions are: How much
Wilt costP What are the necessary
expenses of college educationP And
what sum is needed not only to send a
boy through college, but also to main
tain a social equality with his matesP
At the last commencement of Harry
ard University one of the professors
undertook to answer these queries, as
far as that institution was concerned.
He asked each member of the senior
class to write to him what the college
course had cost him. The analysis of
the replies receivcd-which comprised
fiye-sixths, of the class-enabled the
professor to form good estimate OF
the sums spent. 0ne-quarter of the
class replied that they had spent be-
tween four hundred and six hundred
year; another quarter spent
between six hundred and nine hundred
dollars; a little over quarter spent
twelve hundred dollars ayear, or more.
The smallest amount spent was four
hundred dollars; the largest, over twelve
hundred dollars. The average sum
spent was about seven hundred and
fifty dollars a year.
1t must be remembered that these
figures relate to the largest of our uni
versities, one situated in a city, and
close by q yet larger city, where the
ordinary expenses of living are much
higher than In those colleges which are
situated in country towns or villages,
The professor who made the statements
referred to, added: ''If your son is
very economical, he can 1.-Two at Har-
ward under six hundred dollars. II he
is able TO live closely and carefully, he
may accomplish 1t by spending between
six hundred and eight hundred dollars,
II you wish him to live here at ease,
gaining the many advantages which
| money can purchase, eight hundred to
one thousand dollars will be well OK
pended"
OF course, at Harvard, as at many
other colleges, the poor boy who is
bright and assiduous scholar may, BY
gaining scholarships, or taking advant
age Of the loan funds, relieve his
parents to a large degree of the cost o
keeping him in college. 1T is safe t.
say that a very large number of thu
students in the smaller New England
colleges of the best class, such a.
Amherst, Dartmouth, Bowdoin, og'
through their course on an expenditur'
of four hundred dollars or less a year
Such expenses as the college fees
room rent, board and clothing can b
easily estimated by any individual
parent. The other expenses OF stu
dents, such as the cost OF membershi
in college societies, social demands an
the extent of pocket money, are tho un
certain ones, not so easily determined
They are necessarily larger in n cit
like New Haven or Boston than in
county town like Amherst or Hanoye
or Brunswick. f N'
The professor who has been quote
declares that the college authoritie
can not check the extravagances c
q students, or regulate their expenditure
for them. This must be done by th
parents; and the best way of doing
is, after paying the regular bills 70
tuition, room and board, to give tn
} son a fixed allowance for clothes an
all other matters, ''and oblige him
stick to It,.
While this is strictly true at Harvar
and other very large colleges, IL is nj
so accurately said of the smaller co
lcges, where the supervision Of student
by the faculty is more easily exercise'
We know Of cases at some of the inst
, tutions where the number OF studcn
is small, in which, without inquisitori
watchfulness, tendency to extrav
gancc has been healthily checked. b
, wherever the young man is studyin
let the parent decide what he CT
afford to give his son; whether
! wishes him to live economically, ~
, not take advantage Of social opport
+, mites or expensive college association
or whether he is able to give him the
advantages at larger cost to himse
1t Is foolish, even for the richest p
: rent, &c. give his boy an unlimited ca
!. upon his purse. That not only encou
. ages extrayagance in the boy himsel
! but makes him an example Of extray
/ gance to others. A fixed allowanc
!, large or small. according to the father
I means, rigidly adhered to, is the wis
. plan which the father can adopt
Youth's Companion. .,-.